Defending champion Sabalenka Favored Vs Zheng in Australian Open Final
The 2024 Women's Australian Open odds Favor Sabalenka To Go Back-to-Back
Zheng Comes Into Her First Grand Slam Singles Final as an Underdog
No tennis player has won back-to-back Australian Open women’s singles titles since Victoria Azarenka accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2013. That could change as the 2024 Women’s Australian Open odds list defending champion Aryna Sabalenka as the favorite against Qinwen Zhang in the Australian Open singles final.
Both players had straight-set wins in the semifinals, with Sabalenka topping Coco Gauff in a rematch of the 2023 US Open final won by Gauff, while Zheng posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
In their only previous meeting, Sabalenka topped Zheng 6-1, 6-4 in the 2023 US Open quarterfinals.
The Australian Open odds have Sabalenka priced at -500 to win the title compared to +380 odds for Zheng.
Keep on reading for more about the Australian Open singles final between No. 12 seed Zheng and second-seeded Sabalenka.
🎾 Zheng vs Sabalenka 🎾
Day/Time:
Location: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Streaming: Watch Live Sports
Zheng’s Road to the Final
No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek joined No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina as the favorite to advance to the finals out of the top half of the bracket when looking at the Australian Open schedule.
However, Swiatek fell to unseeded Linda Noskova in three sets in the third round, with Rybakina going out in the second round.
With all the upsets, Zheng hasn’t faced a seeded player on her way to her first Grand Slam singles final.
She lost her first set in the tournament against Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals before advancing in three sets.
Zheng never made it to the second week in her first seven Grand Slam appearances. That changed with a run to the 2023 US Open quarterfinals before she ran into Sabalenka.
That strong showing in New York had Zheng listed as an under-the-radar contender according to the 2024 Women’s Australian Open odds.
Ten years ago, Li Na made history by winning the Australian Open title. Zheng is hoping to make some history of her own.
“I’m sure the final will be competitive because I think Sabalenka, she’s one of the most big hitters right now in the tour,” Zheng said after her semifinal win. She got the big serve, the big forehand, and the big backhand. She’s a really complete player.”
Sabalenka’s Run to the Final
Sabalenka came into the Australian Open second only to Swiatek in the 2024 Australian Open odds.
Sabalenka lost 11 games in her first four matches as she quickly rolled past Ella Seidel, Brenda Fruhvirtova, Lesia Tsurenko and American Amanda Anisimova to reach the quarterfinals.
Regarding the Australian Open results, it was more of the same against No. 9 seed Barbora Krejcikova with a 6-2, 6-3 win by Sabalenka to set up the much-anticipated rematch with Gauff.
Sabalenka had 33 winners against Gauff.
“The key was that I was able to stay focused no matter what, no matter what the score was, and keep fighting for it,” Sabalenka said. “I’m super happy to be in another final of a Grand Slam.”
Sabalenka has lost one set in 13 matches at the last two Australian Opens, and that came against Rybakina in the 2023 final.
Zheng vs Sabalenka Betting Preview
The players are a combined 12-2 in 2024. Sabalenka’s only loss came to Rybakina in the Brisbane final.
The only defeat suffered by Zheng was against Swiatek at the United Cup.
Zheng has 60 aces in her nine tennis matches this year compared to the 58 for Sabalenka in 11 matches. They have both played in 22 sets heading into the final.
Sabalenka’s average match in 2024 lasted 72 minutes, while Zheng has spent nearly two hours on the court in each of her matches this year.
Both Sabalenka and Zheng have won at least 75% of their first-serve points, while Sabalenka has the better numbers (51% to 46%) on returns.
Zheng is a great story as she is in the finals in just her ninth Grand Slam appearance. She is set to break into the top 10 when the next WTA rankings come out. She will be the first player from China to rank in the top 10 of the WTA rankings since her tennis idol, Li Na.
The game spread is currently at -4.5 for Sabalenka, with the over/under set at 20.5 games. Going with the under seems to be the best way to proceed based on how Sabalenka is playing right now.
Expect a closer result than their US Open showdown. Still, Sabalenka has looked unstoppable since arriving in Melbourne and should add a second-straight Australian Open title to her growing collection of titles.
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